Assam: National Institute of Pharmaceuticals Education & Research (NIPER) Guwahati and Hindustan Antibiotic Limited (HAL), Pimpri (Pune), a PSU under the Department of Chemicals & Fertilizers, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for large scale industrial-grade manufacturing and commercialization of their 3D printed antimicrobial face-shields to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). The information was given by NIPER's Director Dr USN Murty on Monday. A press release issued by the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers mentioned that NIPER has designed, developed and validated 3D-printed antimicrobial face-shield to control the spread of novel coronavirus, after careful analyses of several resources for risk measurement and on how viruses spread through bare hands and other body cavities like oral, ophthalmic & olfactory, etc. (even though ear as well). Some of the salient features of their developed 3D printed antimicrobial face-shields include, highly occlusive, transparent, easy-to-design, low cost, easy to wear, antimicrobial in nature, excellent chemical stability, non-fragile and easy to clean with the existing sanitizers or any alcoholic disinfectant. 

NIPER in the fight against COVID-19

In addition to this, NIPER-G designed and developed a 3D-printed multi-layer antimicrobial face mask to control the spread of novel coronavirus. The first layer of this mask will be anti-bacterial casing, the second layer will be the sanitizing layer and reducing exposure of airborne particulates. And the third layer will be the medicinal layer to prevent extra microbial attacks, etc.

Finally, NIPER-G has also developed and validated a 3D-printed hands-free multi-tasking object for opening or closing of the doors, windows, drawers (both vertical & horizontal), refrigerator handle, elevator buttons, laptop or desktop keyboards, including turning on/off switch buttons. This product is very handy, user-friendly, non-fragile, and easy to clean with the existing sanitizers or any alcoholic disinfectant.

NIPER (Guwahati)

National Institute of Pharmaceuticals Education and Research (NIPER) Guwahati, is a premier institute of national importance under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers. The institute is committed to providing a useful contribution cum solution in terms of developing personal protective equipment's (PPEs) to avoid the fatal spread of COVID-19 transmission.

NIPER has also filed both an Indian design patent and provisional patent at Indian Patent Office, New Delhi on their 3D printed antimicrobial face-shields.